hello, I'm Will.... I'm new to this forum but not to motorcycles.....

I recently tried to ressurect an 85 Savage 650 that had been sitting for several years..... everything was going well. somehow the starter relay was missing. we did get it started briefly but on the third start a very bad grinding noise came with the starter..... remove the starter motor and it worked fine on the bench.....  I removed the left side cover to discover that the two gears that connect the starter to the flywheel were loose..... the small boss on the case and also the cover had broken off.......

any insight on this.....

thank you in advance

Ww

well, I'd like to fix this......it looks like the cover will have to be replaced. the boss on the case is kinda flimsy to begin with but there is room to make a piece much stronger than the original...... I was hoping that somebody makes these repair parts so I don't have to invent them..... I can see how this was a common problem, how did others remedy this?

Ww